Foldable carrying bag

ABSTRACT

A foldable carrying bag having a swing-action frame, sides, and a two-part base that folds along a pivot axis. There is also included a securing member that supports the two-part base in an open position.

The invention relates to a foldable carrying bag.

Carrying bags in different shapes and forms are known in general. Such foldable carrying bags are used, in particular, for shopping purposes, preferably for bulk shopping. DE 20 2004 002 596 U1 discloses, for example, a carrying bag which can be fitted in a shopping cart or the like and is adaptable to different sizes of such shopping carts. The carrying bag has a flexible bag body with a bag opening. The body of the bag is connected to two profiles which are attached to opposite sides of the body of the bag. Handles are arranged on these profiles. The known carrying bag has two mutually opposite regions which are provided with elastic, with the result that the size of the opening of the carrying bag can be varied by virtue of an appropriate force being applied.

DE 26 33 763 A1 discloses a foldable carrying bag with a base and sides which are connected to an at least swing-action frame. Sliding elements are arranged on a right-angled frame and are connected to struts. The other ends of these struts are connected to the base.

The carrying bag can be opened out and collapsed by virtue of the sliding parts being moved. In the folded state of the carrying bag, the struts run essentially parallel to the frame.

The problem with such a foldable carrying bag is that it involves relatively high outlay to produce. Furthermore, there is a risk of possible injury when the carrying bag is collapsed if, during the collapsing operation, the person who is carrying out the folding operation puts his/her finger between the frame and the strut.

Taking this as the departure point, the object of the present invention is to provide a foldable carrying bag which can be produced more easily. In particular, the intention is thus for the foldable carrying bag to be designed such that the risk of injury when the bag is collapsed is at least avoided.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a foldable carrying bag which has the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments and configurations of the foldable carrying bag form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The foldable carrying bag according to the invention has a base and sides which are connected to an at least swing-action frame. The base is formed by two base parts which can be pivoted toward one another and away from one another. The foldable carrying bag according to the invention also has a means which extends essentially transversely to at least one pivot axis of the base parts, the base parts being secured by this means at least essentially in one plane.

The configuration of the foldable carrying bag according to the invention provides a carrying bag which is of straightforward design and is easy to produce. On the one hand, the means allows the base parts to be secured such that they are located essentially in one plane. On the other hand, the means allows the base parts to be secured such that they are located in a different plane, the base parts essentially running parallel to one another. This measure also ensures that the carrying bag does not open out accidentally when it is in the folded state.

A particularly advantageous design of a carrying bag is one in which the means is in the form of a band. In particular, it is proposed that the means is connected in a releasable manner to at least one base part. The connection between the means and the at least one base part can be made, for example, by a hook/eyelet connection. By virtue of the band-like means, the base parts are preferably braced in one plane in the opened-out state of the carrying bag. The means also serves for securing the base in the folded state.

A particularly preferred configuration of a foldable carrying bag is one in which the means is connected in a fixed manner to one base part and in a releasable manner to the other base part. This measure results in the band-like means being fastened in captive fashion to one base part.

According to yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag it is proposed that the base part and the means can be connected in a form-fitting manner. A particularly preferred configuration here is one in which the connection is made by a touch-and-close fastener.

In order to provide the carrying bag with enhanced stability in the carrying state, i.e. in the opened-out state, it is proposed, according to yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag, that the frame has a carrying part and two frame parts which are connected in a pivotable manner to the frame and each form a constituent part of the respective base part.

For the purpose of stiffening the sides of the carrying bag, yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag provides at least one stiffening part which is connected to the frame and a side part.

The frame part preferably forms a carrying handle at the same time. In particular, the carrying part may consist of metal and/or plastic. A preferred configuration of the carrying part here is one in which the carrying part is designed as a profile, in particular a round-tube profile, an oval profile, a rectangular profile or a polygonal profile. The base and/or the sides of the carrying bag are preferably produced from a textile material. In particular, it is proposed that the base is provided with a water-repellent coating.

If appropriate, the sides may be provided with additional pockets into which, for example, small items can be introduced.

According to yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag according to the invention, it is proposed that the base and/or at least one side are/is formed, at least in part, from a heat-insulating material. A preferred configuration is one in which the base and all the sides of the carrying bag are formed from a heat-insulating material. This configuration makes it possible to transport products in the carrying bag with heat insulation. This is advantageous, in particular, when, for example, the carrying bag is to be used for transporting frozen products.

In order to improve the heat insulation yet further and to protect the contents of the carrying bag against contamination, etc., it is proposed, according to yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag according to the invention, that the carrying bag has a cover. The cover may be of stable or flexible design. A preferred configuration of a cover is one in which the cover is of hood-like design. The cover has a border which engages around the sides of the carrying bag. In particular, a form-fitting connection is produced between the cover and the body of the carrying bag. The peripheral border of the cover is preferably of elastic or partially elastic design. It may also contain, for example, pieces of elastic or the like.

According to yet a further advantageous configuration of the carrying bag, it is proposed that the cover is formed, at least in part, from a heat-insulating material.

The design of the carrying bag according to the invention can also aid personal road safety. In particular, it is proposed that the base, a cover and/or at least one side are formed, at least in part, from a light-reflecting material. It is possible here to provide reflective strips, for example, for the sides, with the result that the carrying basket is clearly visible in the dark when, for example, the light from the vehicle headlamps falls onto the reflective strips of the carrying bag. This increases vehicle-driver awareness.

Further details and advantages of the foldable carrying bag are explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, without the subject matter of the invention being restricted to this specific exemplary embodiment.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a foldable carrying bag,

FIG. 2 shows the base of the carrying bag according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the carrying bag in the folded state,

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the folded carrying bag, and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the foldable carrying bag.

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of one embodiment of a carrying bag according to the invention. The carrying bag has a carrying part 1 of essentially U-shaped design. This carrying part forms a carrying handle at the same time. Two frame parts 2, 3 are connected to the carrying part 1. The frame parts 2, 3 are connected such that the frame parts 2, 3 can be pivoted about the axes 4, 5 in the direction of the carrying part 1. The frame parts 2, 3 each form constituent parts of the base parts 6, 7. The sides of the carrying bag are illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1. It can also be seen from FIG. 1 that two stiffening parts 8, 9 are connected to the carrying part. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the stiffening parts 8, 9 are of U-shaped design. They are fastened on the carrying part 1 such that they can be pivoted about axes 10, 11. The stiffening parts are connected to the material covering of the bag, with the result that the carrying bag is of essentially cuboidal design in the opened-out state.

A band-like means is provided in order to secure the base parts 6, 7. The band-like means 12 is connected in a fixed manner to the base part 6. On the base part 7, an eyelet 13 is connected to the base part 7 via a flexible section 14. The band-like means 12 is drawn through the eyelet 13, and is secured via a touch-and-close fastener. The means 12 braces the base, with the result that the latter is located essentially in one plane.

The carrying bag can be folded. For this purpose, the connection of the means 12 is released and the means 12 is drawn out of the eyelet 13. The base parts and the stiffening parts are pivoted in the direction of the carrying part 1. Such a position is shown in FIG. 3. In order to secure the carrying bag in the folded state, the band-like means 12 can then be drawn through the eyelet 13 again and secured via the touch-and-close fastener. The band-like means 12 may be connected to the base part 7 in some other way. It is possible, for example, to achieve this by hooks and/or snap fasteners.

The foldable carrying bag is easier to carry. Furthermore, the carrying bag can easily be folded and opened out.

FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the foldable carrying bag according to the invention. The basic arrangement of the carrying bag corresponds essentially to the arrangement of the exemplary embodiment of a carrying bag which is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The carrying bag has a carrying part 1 which is designed in the form of a handle. The side parts 15, 16 and the base part are formed from a heat-insulating material. The side parts and/or the base may be formed from heat-insulating materials with different heat transfer coefficients. A preferred configuration is one in which the side parts and the base part are formed from heat-insulating materials which have the same heat transfer coefficients. In particular, it is proposed that the outer surfaces of the side parts are formed, at least in part, from a light-reflecting material.

17 designates a cover which can be used to close the carrying bag. The cover 17 is preferably designed in two parts, with the result that it can be moved with swing action. The illustration according to FIG. 5 depicts the carrying bag with a cover 17, and the cover has been folded back. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the cover 17 is of hood-like design. It has border regions 18, 19 which, in the closed state of the carrying bag, partially engage around the side parts 15, 16. The border regions are preferably of elastic design, with the result that a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection is produced between the cover and the side parts.

In order to secure the cover on the side parts, the cover has an interrupted border region 18. A band 20 is provided in one end region of the border 18. The band 20 can be guided through an eyelet 22, the eyelet 22 being arranged on the other region of the split border 18. The band 20 can be secured on a region 21. A touch-and-close fastening connection is preferred here, although it is not imperative. It is also possible for the region 21 and the band 20 to be provided with, for example, snap fasteners, hooks and eyelets or the like.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

-   1 Carrying part -   2 Frame part -   3 Frame part -   4 Axis -   5 Axis -   6 Base part -   7 Base part -   8 Stiffening part -   9 Stiffening part -   10 Axis -   11 Axis -   12 Means -   13 Eyelet -   14 Flexible section -   15 Side part -   16 Side part -   17 Cover -   18, 19 Border region -   20 Band -   21 Region -   22 Eyelet 

1. A foldable carrying bag with a base and sides which are connected to an at least swing-action frame, wherein the base is formed from two base parts (6, 7) which can be pivoted toward one another and away from one another, there being provided at least one means (12) which extends essentially transversely to the at least one pivot axis (4, 5) of the base parts (6, 7) and secures the base parts (6, 7) at least essentially in one plane.
 2. The carrying bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means (12) is in the form of a band.
 3. The carrying bag as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means (12) is connected in a releasable manner to at least one base part (6, 7).
 4. The carrying bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means (12) is connected in a fixed manner to one base part (6) and in a releasable manner to the other base part (7).
 5. The carrying bag as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein a base part (6, 7) and the means (12) can be connected in a form-fitting manner.
 6. The carrying bag as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame has a carrying part (1) and two frame parts (2, 3) which are connected in a pivotable manner to the frame and each form a constituent part of the respective base part (6, 7).
 7. The carrying bag as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, claims 1 to 6, wherein there is provided at least one stiffening part (8, 9) which is connected to the frame and a side part.
 8. The carrying bag as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the base and/or at least one side part (15, 16) are/is formed, at least in part, from a heat-insulating material.
 9. The carrying bag as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a cover (17) is provided.
 10. The carrying bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover (17) is formed, at least in part, from a heat-insulating material.
 11. The carrying bag as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein the base, a cover and/or one side are formed, at least in part, from a light-reflecting material. 